Search
What are you looking for?
Start main content

Press Releases

Press Releases

https://www.med.cuhk.edu.hk/press-releases/cuhk-study-sees-the-exposure-to-farm-environment-is-beneficial-for-children-to-prevent-asthma
https://www.med.cuhk.edu.hk/press-releases/cuhk-study-sees-the-exposure-to-farm-environment-is-beneficial-for-children-to-prevent-asthma

CUHK Study Sees the Exposure to Farm Environment Is Beneficial for Children to Prevent Asthma

Jan 9 press conference

A study of the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK confirmed that farm dust exposure conferred an anti-inflammatory effect and might represent a promising future agent for asthma prevention and treatment. (From left) Ms. Hannah XING, PhD student; Professor Gary WONG and Professor LEUNG Ting Fan, Chairman of the Department of Paediatrics; and Professor WONG Chun Kwok from the Department of Chemical Pathology of the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK.

The Department of Paediatrics and the Department of Chemical Pathology of the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have collaborated with researchers from Germany, Finland and mainland China in a study that looks into the effect of exposing children to a farm environment to prevent allergic asthma. 

 

The research team analysed the blood samples of over 2,000 healthy and asthmatic children from Europe and China. A protein was found to be a key factor in childhood asthma development and environment-mediated protection. The level of this anti-inflammatory protein in asthmatic children from urban areas was 50% lower than the healthy subjects. The study confirmed that farm dust exposure conferred an anti-inflammatory effect and might represent a promising future agent for asthma prevention and treatment. The findings have been published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

 

Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in childhood

 

The majority of child asthma cases are allergic asthma. The children’s bodies produce IgE antibodies against environmental antigens. The multifactorial cause of asthma includes genetic factors and environmental exposures illustrated by remarkable differences in prevalence between children from urban and rural areas.

 

Asthma prevalence has been increasing, particularly in westernised communities with high hygiene standards. In Hong Kong, there are 6,000 to 8,000 admissions for asthma to public hospital and 100 death cases per year. 

 

Professor LEUNG Ting Fan, Chairman of the Department of Paediatrics of the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK, stated, “As there is an increasing number of patients with asthma and allergies, it is crucial to find out the solutions to improving the control of existing asthma patients and also the causes of the asthma in order to prevent the disease from occurring.” 

 

Aims to disentangle the role of a protein during childhood asthma development and environmentally mediated protection

 

From 2013 to 2016, the researchers analysed the blood samples from 2,168 European (e.g. Germany, Switzerland and Finland) and Chinese (Conghua and Hong Kong) children. The aim was to disentangle the role of an anti-inflammatory protein called TNFAIP3 during childhood asthma development and environmentally mediated protection. TNFAIP3 expression was studied in asthmatic urban children and results indicated that their TNFAIP3 expression was about 50% of the healthy children across different urban areas. 
     
Professor WONG Chun Kwok, Professor from the Department of Chemical Pathology of the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK, explained, “We demonstrated that asthmatic children from both Germany and Hong Kong expressed less TNFAIP3, a central negative regulator of the proinflammatory genetic pathway, which resulted in an uncontrollable inflammatory status. Notably, we also confirmed that the low TNFAIP3 expression levels were presented at birth in children who had asthma by the age of 10, suggesting TNFAIP3 as a potential biomarker for asthma prediction.”

 

"The anti-inflammatory capacities shown after the dust stimulation might indicate a potential therapeutic role for farm dust exposure."
Professor Gary WONG,
Department of Paediatrics

Moreover, the research team stimulated the cells of urban asthmatic children with dust extracted from German and Finnish farms. Results showed that TNFAIP3 expression can be restored to the level of healthy subjects while decreasing the proinflammatory gene expression. 

 

Professor Gary WONG Wing Kin, Professor from the Department of Paediatrics of the Faculty of Medicine at CUHK, concluded, “The anti-inflammatory capacities shown after the dust stimulation might indicate a potential therapeutic role for farm dust exposure. As beneficial effects of farm dust stimulation were demonstrated, we believe that exposure to farm environments is beneficial for children and potentially for allergy prevention and is even able to decrease the increased inflammatory status of patients with allergic asthma. This may represent a promising future agent for asthma prevention and treatment.”

 

 

Proper diagnosis and education are important to the management of asthma

 

Proper diagnosis and education are also important to the management of asthma too. Professor Gary WONG and his team conducted the “TS Lo Foundation Personalised Childhood Asthma Education Programme” from 2016 to 2019, which has provided assessment and education sessions to 2,600 children. It included teaching them the proper use of asthma medications and assessing their asthma status. After the programme, the score in terms of the frequency and seriousness of asthmatic symptoms had been improved from 22 to 25 in the group of 4 to 11 year olds and from 21 to 25 in the group of 12 year olds or above. The higher the score, the better the control of asthma.  

 

Professor Gary WONG added, “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the TS Lo Foundation for their support of this Programme. We are delighted to see the Programme received a positive response and look forward to seeing the Programme help reduce the burden of asthma management on the public health sector.”
 

patient sharing

Summey (right) was admitted to the intensive care unit for asthma when she was 3 years old. She then followed the doctor's instructions to start swimming and now she has a good control of asthma.

lab

Researcher demonstrates the test of dust-stimulation on blood sample in the laboratory.

 

 

More Press Releases

CU Medicine Studies Suggest Grass Carp as a Major Source of Fish Allergy in Hong Kong And Identify Novel Allergenic Marker Cten i 1 to Promote Accurate Diagnosis

CU Medicine Studies Suggest Grass Carp as a Major Source of Fish Allergy in Hong Kong And Identify Novel Allergenic Marker Cten i 1 to Promote Accurate Diagnosis

Research
CUHK Conducts Hong Kong’s First Study on Seven Common Respiratory Viruses Revealing Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza A as Prevalent Fatal Types

CUHK Conducts Hong Kong’s First Study on Seven Common Respiratory Viruses Revealing Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza A as Prevalent Fatal Types

Research
CUHK Establishes Hong Kong Hub of Paediatric Excellence (HK HOPE) Multidisciplinary Efforts Across the Globe to Advance Children’s Health and Well-being

CUHK Establishes Hong Kong Hub of Paediatric Excellence (HK HOPE) Multidisciplinary Efforts Across the Globe to Advance Children’s Health and Well-being

Health Campaign
CU Medicine and International Surgeons Suggest Patients with Positive COVID-19 Results Should Delay Surgery for Seven Weeks to Reduce Death Risk

CU Medicine and International Surgeons Suggest Patients with Positive COVID-19 Results Should Delay Surgery for Seven Weeks to Reduce Death Risk

International collaboration
CUHK Introduces Nasal Strip Sampling for COVID-19 Test As a Superior Tool for Surveillance in a Wide Age-Range Population

CUHK Introduces Nasal Strip Sampling for COVID-19 Test As a Superior Tool for Surveillance in a Wide Age-Range Population

Research
CUHK and International Experts in Diabetes Care Joined Hands for Four Years Developing a Multicomponent, Integrated Strategy for Diabetes under The Lancet

CUHK and International Experts in Diabetes Care Joined Hands for Four Years Developing a Multicomponent, Integrated Strategy for Diabetes under The Lancet

International collaboration
CU Medicine Studies Highlight Smoking as a Contributing Factor for Bladder Cancer and  Develop an International Collaborative Consensus on En Bloc Resection to Treat the Disease

CU Medicine Studies Highlight Smoking as a Contributing Factor for Bladder Cancer and Develop an International Collaborative Consensus on En Bloc Resection to Treat the Disease

Research
CUHK Successfully Performed World’s First Colorectal Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection  Using Flexible Endoscopic Robotic System

CUHK Successfully Performed World’s First Colorectal Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Using Flexible Endoscopic Robotic System

Surgical advancement
CUHK Pioneers Whole Genome Sequencing for Identifying the Chromosomal Abnormalities in Couples with Recurrent Miscarriages

CUHK Pioneers Whole Genome Sequencing for Identifying the Chromosomal Abnormalities in Couples with Recurrent Miscarriages

Research
CU Medicine Announces the Community Response Study Results During the Early Phase of the COVID-19 Outbreak in Hong Kong

CU Medicine Announces the Community Response Study Results During the Early Phase of the COVID-19 Outbreak in Hong Kong

Research
The Helmsley Charitable Trust Funds Asian Research into Babies’ Gut Microbiota and Crohn’s Disease

The Helmsley Charitable Trust Funds Asian Research into Babies’ Gut Microbiota and Crohn’s Disease

Research
Chinese Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome have 4-fold Higher Risk of Developing Diabetes

Chinese Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome have 4-fold Higher Risk of Developing Diabetes

Research
Multicomponent Frailty Prevention Programme Reduces Frailty Over 80% of Pre-frail Elderly Reverse to Robust Phenotype

Multicomponent Frailty Prevention Programme Reduces Frailty Over 80% of Pre-frail Elderly Reverse to Robust Phenotype

Research
CUHK Validates the Enhanced UK Fetal Medicine Foundation’s Triple Test Can Double the Detection Rate of Preterm Preeclampsia in Asian Pregnant Women

CUHK Validates the Enhanced UK Fetal Medicine Foundation’s Triple Test Can Double the Detection Rate of Preterm Preeclampsia in Asian Pregnant Women

Research
CUHK Pioneers Whole Genome Sequencing for Prenatal Diagnosis in Hong Kong

CUHK Pioneers Whole Genome Sequencing for Prenatal Diagnosis in Hong Kong

Research
CUHK to Commence the Next-Generation Clinical Trials of CAR-T Cell Therapy for Haematological Malignancy

CUHK to Commence the Next-Generation Clinical Trials of CAR-T Cell Therapy for Haematological Malignancy

Research
CUHK-Designed Intervention Package Proves Effective to Increase Influenza Vaccine Uptake in Hong Kong Young Children

CUHK-Designed Intervention Package Proves Effective to Increase Influenza Vaccine Uptake in Hong Kong Young Children

Research
CUHK Study Sees Shorter Sleep Put Adolescents at Risk of Future Cardiovascular Diseases

CUHK Study Sees Shorter Sleep Put Adolescents at Risk of Future Cardiovascular Diseases

Research
CUHK Recommends Oral Glucose Tolerance Test for All Pregnant Women Study Reveals Children of Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Have 3-Fold Diabetes Risk

CUHK Recommends Oral Glucose Tolerance Test for All Pregnant Women Study Reveals Children of Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Have 3-Fold Diabetes Risk

Research
CUHK Proves Rotavirus Vaccine Highly Effective for HK Children

CUHK Proves Rotavirus Vaccine Highly Effective for HK Children

Research
CUHK Leads a Multinational Study that Finds New Treatment Paradigm of Mutated Lung Cancer

CUHK Leads a Multinational Study that Finds New Treatment Paradigm of Mutated Lung Cancer

Research
CUHK-led Study Reveals Novel Mechanism for the Development of Atherosclerosis Setting New Treatment Directions to Cardiovascular Diseases

CUHK-led Study Reveals Novel Mechanism for the Development of Atherosclerosis Setting New Treatment Directions to Cardiovascular Diseases

Research
CUHK Launches World’s First Study on Ovum Ageing and Female Infertility by Using Single-Cell Genomics Technology

CUHK Launches World’s First Study on Ovum Ageing and Female Infertility by Using Single-Cell Genomics Technology

Research
CUHK World’s First Study Sets a New Direction on Aspirin Use after Lower Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage

CUHK World’s First Study Sets a New Direction on Aspirin Use after Lower Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage

Research
CUHK Discovers Fatty Liver Causing Severe Liver Fibrosis or Cirrhosis in 1 Out of 5 Diabetic Patients

CUHK Discovers Fatty Liver Causing Severe Liver Fibrosis or Cirrhosis in 1 Out of 5 Diabetic Patients

Research
CUHK Opens Therese Pei Fong Chow Research Centre for Prevention of Dementia and Establishes a One-stop Online Platform to Provide Information on Dementia

CUHK Opens Therese Pei Fong Chow Research Centre for Prevention of Dementia and Establishes a One-stop Online Platform to Provide Information on Dementia

Research
CUHK World’s First Study Confirms A New Colorectal Cancer High Risk Group

CUHK World’s First Study Confirms A New Colorectal Cancer High Risk Group

Research
CUHK Asia’s First Comprehensive Epidemiological Study on Health Impact of Household Cleaning Products on Children Reveals Frequent Use of Household Cleaning Products Increase Risk of Triggering Rhinitis in Children

CUHK Asia’s First Comprehensive Epidemiological Study on Health Impact of Household Cleaning Products on Children Reveals Frequent Use of Household Cleaning Products Increase Risk of Triggering Rhinitis in Children

Research
CUHK Sets up the Global First Research Registry on Early Onset Dementia in Chinese Population

CUHK Sets up the Global First Research Registry on Early Onset Dementia in Chinese Population

Research
CUHK and HKU Researchers Introduce 3D Printing Technology in Complex Cardiac Surgery Procedures

CUHK and HKU Researchers Introduce 3D Printing Technology in Complex Cardiac Surgery Procedures

Research
CUHK Jointly Discovers New Therapeutic Solution for Minor Stroke in Global Study with over 30 Countries

CUHK Jointly Discovers New Therapeutic Solution for Minor Stroke in Global Study with over 30 Countries

Research
CUHK Sees Early Evaluation of TIA Patients Reduce Rate of Stroke by 70% in a Global Study of 21 Countries

CUHK Sees Early Evaluation of TIA Patients Reduce Rate of Stroke by 70% in a Global Study of 21 Countries

Research
CUHK Research Shows 1 in 5 Throat Cancer Patients in HK is HPV infected

CUHK Research Shows 1 in 5 Throat Cancer Patients in HK is HPV infected

Research
CUHK/International Study Implicates a Gene in Alzheimer’s disease

CUHK/International Study Implicates a Gene in Alzheimer’s disease

Research
CUHK Launches Hong Kong’s First Pilot Integrative Medicine Programme in Multiple Sclerosis for Managing Cognitive Symptoms, Relieving Fatigue, and Disease Control

CUHK Launches Hong Kong’s First Pilot Integrative Medicine Programme in Multiple Sclerosis for Managing Cognitive Symptoms, Relieving Fatigue, and Disease Control

Research
CUHK Launches Newborn Add-on Test for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Supported by Joshua Hellmann Foundation for Orphan Disease

CUHK Launches Newborn Add-on Test for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Supported by Joshua Hellmann Foundation for Orphan Disease

Donation
Asia’s First Research by CUHK on Patients’ Lifestyle Reveals Personalised Modification Programme Effective in Reducing Severity of OSA

Asia’s First Research by CUHK on Patients’ Lifestyle Reveals Personalised Modification Programme Effective in Reducing Severity of OSA

Research
CUHK Latest Research Reveals FMT Effectiveness Triples that of Conventional Treatment

CUHK Latest Research Reveals FMT Effectiveness Triples that of Conventional Treatment

Research
CUHK Introduces New Material for Osteoporosis-related Bone Fracture Effectively Reduces Healing Time and Enhances Bone Strength Both by 30%

CUHK Introduces New Material for Osteoporosis-related Bone Fracture Effectively Reduces Healing Time and Enhances Bone Strength Both by 30%

Research
CUHK Highlights the Significance of Hospital Infection Control System in Controlling MERS

CUHK Highlights the Significance of Hospital Infection Control System in Controlling MERS

Research
CUHK Estimates Local Smokers Spend over HKD1 Million on Tobacco in Life

CUHK Estimates Local Smokers Spend over HKD1 Million on Tobacco in Life

Research
CUHK Advocates Stringent Control of Cardiovascular Risks for Reopening of Narrowed Brain Arteries - A New Paradigm to Prevent Recurrent Stroke (Available in Chinese only)

CUHK Advocates Stringent Control of Cardiovascular Risks for Reopening of Narrowed Brain Arteries - A New Paradigm to Prevent Recurrent Stroke (Available in Chinese only)

Research
CUHK Latest Research Reveals over 100,000 New Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Cases in Hong Kong Annually

CUHK Latest Research Reveals over 100,000 New Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Cases in Hong Kong Annually

Research
CUHK Reveals Hepatitis B Prevalence Among Pregnant Women Remains High Despite More Than 25 Years of Universal Hepatitis B Vaccination

CUHK Reveals Hepatitis B Prevalence Among Pregnant Women Remains High Despite More Than 25 Years of Universal Hepatitis B Vaccination

Research
CUHK Research by Medical Undergraduates Reveals Poor Medication Adherence Among Hypertensive Patients in Hong Kong

CUHK Research by Medical Undergraduates Reveals Poor Medication Adherence Among Hypertensive Patients in Hong Kong

Research
CUHK Study Reveals Peer Support Can Reduce Hospital Admission of Distressed Diabetes Patients

CUHK Study Reveals Peer Support Can Reduce Hospital Admission of Distressed Diabetes Patients

Research
Joint Study by CUHK and HKSH Reveals Patients with Comorbid REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and Depression may Suffer from Early-stage Neurodegeneration

Joint Study by CUHK and HKSH Reveals Patients with Comorbid REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and Depression may Suffer from Early-stage Neurodegeneration

Research
Screening Reveals Over 50% Community-dwelling Population Aged 65 or above are Pre-frail

Screening Reveals Over 50% Community-dwelling Population Aged 65 or above are Pre-frail

Research
CUHK Succeeded in Animal Study and Clinical Case of Percutaneous Nanoknife New Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment

CUHK Succeeded in Animal Study and Clinical Case of Percutaneous Nanoknife New Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment

Research
CUHK Opens Phase I Clinical Trial Centre To Step Up New Drug Development in Hong Kong

CUHK Opens Phase I Clinical Trial Centre To Step Up New Drug Development in Hong Kong

Research
CUHK Survey Reveals Relationship between Exercise Pattern and Emotional Health among Hong Kong People Mind-body Exercise Helps Reduce Risk of Mood Disorders

CUHK Survey Reveals Relationship between Exercise Pattern and Emotional Health among Hong Kong People Mind-body Exercise Helps Reduce Risk of Mood Disorders

Research
CUHK Establishes State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease to Improve Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive Diseases

CUHK Establishes State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease to Improve Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive Diseases

Research
CUHK Releases Research Results on Employment Status of Hong Kong Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Dialysis Patients and Promotes Predialysis Education Programme for Mid to Late Stage CKD patients

CUHK Releases Research Results on Employment Status of Hong Kong Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Dialysis Patients and Promotes Predialysis Education Programme for Mid to Late Stage CKD patients

Research
CUHK Conducts Asia's Largest Clinical Study on Life-threatening Infections caused by RSV and Influenza in Hong Kong Adults and Elderly

CUHK Conducts Asia's Largest Clinical Study on Life-threatening Infections caused by RSV and Influenza in Hong Kong Adults and Elderly

Research
CUHK Announces Latest Medical Treatment for Minor Stroke

CUHK Announces Latest Medical Treatment for Minor Stroke

Research
Hong Kong and Macau Among Top Three Regions in Asia-Pacific with the Highest Incidence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease CUHK Establishes Registry to Increase Public Awareness

Hong Kong and Macau Among Top Three Regions in Asia-Pacific with the Highest Incidence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease CUHK Establishes Registry to Increase Public Awareness

Research
CUHK Assessed and Treated Over 300 Young Ketamine Abusers with Urinary Tract Dysfunction Latest Research Reveals Effectiveness of Integrated Anti-inflammatory Therapy

CUHK Assessed and Treated Over 300 Young Ketamine Abusers with Urinary Tract Dysfunction Latest Research Reveals Effectiveness of Integrated Anti-inflammatory Therapy

Research
CUHK Research Reveals that Physical and Cognitive Activities can Maintain and Improve Brain Functions of Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairments

CUHK Research Reveals that Physical and Cognitive Activities can Maintain and Improve Brain Functions of Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairments

Research
CUHK Launches Territory-wide Screening Study for Early Detection of Nasopharynx Cancer Now Recruiting 20,000 Citizens to Join

CUHK Launches Territory-wide Screening Study for Early Detection of Nasopharynx Cancer Now Recruiting 20,000 Citizens to Join

Research
CUHK Research Reveals Impact of Mild Hearing Loss on School Children Now Recruiting Hearing Impaired Students for Research on Efficacy of Intervention

CUHK Research Reveals Impact of Mild Hearing Loss on School Children Now Recruiting Hearing Impaired Students for Research on Efficacy of Intervention

Research
CUHK discovers that 40% of Individuals at Risk of Coronary Heart Disease have Pre-cancerous Bowel Tumors

CUHK discovers that 40% of Individuals at Risk of Coronary Heart Disease have Pre-cancerous Bowel Tumors

Research
CUHK Research Reveals New Influenza Vaccine Offers More Effective Control over Influenza in Hong Kong

CUHK Research Reveals New Influenza Vaccine Offers More Effective Control over Influenza in Hong Kong

Research

Our Expert List

Many experts under the Faculty of Medicine are available for media interview.
Please click here for the expert list or contact us.